Media release – Kristie Johnston MP, independent Member for Clark, 17 January 2023
Hobart Traffic Chaos – We Must Have Light Rail
“The traffic chaos yesterday caused by an accident on the Tasman Bridge is stark proof that a rail service from Hobart’s CBD to the northern suburbs is desperately needed,” Ms Johnston said.
“Some motorists were trapped in their cars for three hours just to get from the city to Glenorchy.
“We are needless slaves to the motor car. Of course the family car is here to stay, but continuing to throw taxpayer’s money at road infrastructure is not the solution to traffic congestion.
“Both Liberal and Labor governments, over the years, have been obsessed with roads. Roads, roads, roads: that’s all we hear.
“Cheap and sensible alternatives, like rail and ferries, will take pressure off our roads and give travellers a sensible, cleaner option.”
Josh Willie MLC, Shadow Minister for Transport, 17 January 2023
Traffic chaos as Liberal light rail promise officially broken
Today marks five years since the Liberals promised Tasmanians they would pull out ‘all stops’ to get light rail running to Hobart’s northern suburbs within five years.
But instead of celebrating the official opening of the rail service they were promised, Hobart commuters are reeling from the unprecedented gridlock that gripped the city yesterday.
There were reports of people spending over five hours in traffic, vehicles running out of fuel, flights disrupted and workers missing shifts. In fact, even government itself ground to a halt as the Clarence Council meeting – at which councillors were set to determine the Kangaroo Bay issue – was cancelled.
The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Michael Ferguson, must today come clean about the status of the long-promised project.
What has happened to the $25 million provided by the Federal Government to kickstart the project?
Why hasn’t Minister Ferguson announced the Government’s planned mode of transport for the corridor, as he said he would last year in the City Deal Progress Report?
Do the Liberals even intend to proceed with the project, or is all the money being diverted to their stadium?
The Liberals have broken dozens of infrastructure and transport promises, including the underground bus mall, the new Tamar Bridge, the Southern Outlet fifth lane and a new ticketing system for public transport.
Frustrated Tasmanian commuters can now add the northern suburbs rail project to that long and growing list.
Media release – Michael Ferguson, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, 17 January 2023
Thanking our hard working crash responders as future infrastructure rollout continues
Plans are on track and on time for activating Hobart’s northern suburbs transit corridor, as investigations into rapid bus transport continues.
Acting Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Michael Ferguson, said while Monday’s unprecedented traffic incident was extremely unfortunate, he called on all road users to drive safely to avoid problems like this in the future.
“I look forward to advice from crash investigators as to the cause of the crash and want to applaud Tasmania Police and my Department of State Growth staff for the rapid response to keep the disruption as short as possible,” he said.
“The ferry services did a superb job responding to the Government’s request for extra and extended services at no notice.
“There were double the number of crossings yesterday evening, carrying more than 1100 passengers.”
The response shows the importance of the River Derwent ferries as part of the Government’s overall transport strategy, which is the most progressive agenda for public transport in decades.
The Rockliff Liberal Government is building the necessary infrastructure for future growth while incentivising public transport and car-pooling to move more people more quickly.
The Greater Hobart Traffic Solution commits $200 million for short and long-term transport initiatives to manage peak commuter demand in the Hobart area.
This includes the new Southern Outlet Transit Lane (including an extra lane through the bottleneck to Macquarie Street), new, wide shared pathways on the Tasman Bridge, expansion of the Derwent Ferry service, as well as the already-completed Kingborough Park and Ride facilities.
“The Government has also been clear on numerous occasions that Rapid Bus Transport is the preferred mode of transport for the northern suburbs transit corridor, as the existing rail asset is beyond repair,” the Acting Premier said.
“We are on track to activate the corridor within the five-to-ten-year timeframe set out in the Hobart City Deal, signed in 2019.
“This is subject to discussions with the Australian Government to access funding and will require their approval of a business case.
“Additionally, the Southern Outlet Transit Lane project recently received parliamentary approval, so it surprises me to see the Labor Party politicking on this project which it fought tooth and nail to prevent.”
“Labor’s petty attempt at political point scoring on this issue will have no benefit to anyone following yesterday’s disruptive crash.”
